I need a new tool box

[8ob]

I also have a used Bluepoint trolley which is very heavy duty and will takes care of storing some tools too.

(Photo below was just after getting it good used!! It's now buried in tools )

View attachment 499662

Clutter buggy, they end up very deep in “things”. Got two here and had to hide them.

Bob

 

[Stueeee]

This is mine, I bought the original top box in the late 70's IIRC. having traded up from a big cantilever toolbox. I can remember thinking 'I'll never fill this up' A few years later I added the first drawer section, and then the deeper drawer section at the bottom, not least because I was worried about the whole thing toppling over. This isn't the extent of toolboxes of course, there a Stahlwille stack with lesser used stuff just around the corner in the garage area.

I have to say that If I was buying this stuff today, from looking at their current prices, I would give Snap-On stuff a miss as there are lots of excellent quality storage solutions that are much better value for money.

 

[sako243]

I also have a used Bluepoint trolley which is very heavy duty and will takes care of storing some tools too.

I got one of those to (albeit a cheapo) wheel about the workshop when working on different things.

After getting called out to fix this thing I put most of my "mechanicing" tools into an old small Halfords chest I had which would fit between the wheel arches on the 110.

I've now dumped that on top of the little trolley in the workshop (can't just about lift it) and I think it'll likely stay that way so I can move it about. Then if I need them somewhere else I can just move it into a vehicle. The drawers it freed up in the big roll top now have tooling for the lathe and are located near there.

 

[addjunkie]

This is my Sealey cab I've had from new about 10 years now

View attachment 499661

(This pic was at a rare time I had just tidied up!!)

It is a fairly light duty affair. About 40% of the drawers have lost their ball bearings and don't open properly after a year or two. But did OK. The replacement Snap On cab has literally 3x or 4x times the storage space comparatively so im very much looking forward to have sturdy & spacious drawer space to organise my tools which are currently scattered all around my garages as they don't fit in this Sealey one.

I also have a used Bluepoint trolley which is very heavy duty and will takes care of storing some tools too.

(Photo below was just after getting it good used!! It's now buried in tools )

View attachment 499662

I used to use one of those next to the lathe for my bits and bobs. I dont like stuff on the head stock. But sold it when tidying upto move house.

 

[Munkul]

Clutter buggy, they end up very deep in “things”. Got two here and had to hide them.

Bob

I ended up taking the drawers off my bluepoint cart and putting them under a semi static worktop. The main problem with those carts is that you can either put tools inside the top, or use the top for putting stuff on top of, but not both.

 

[tigdlo]

The main problem with those carts is that you can either put tools inside the top, or use the top for putting stuff on top of, but not both.

There are these, https://www.sgs-engineering.com/stcc500-mechanics-tool-cart-trolley-workstation but I think they would be better with more drawers instead of an opening top and large open bottom shelf, you know, just a roll cab.

 

[Munkul]

There are these, https://www.sgs-engineering.com/stcc500-mechanics-tool-cart-trolley-workstation but I think they would be better with more drawers instead of an opening top and large open bottom shelf, you know, just a roll cab.

I've had a bluepoint one of those as well, they're good carts but similar sort of thing - they become clutter bugs, like 8ob said.
Btw @8ob "clutter bug" is the best descriptive term I've ever heard for that style of cart... Instantly I knew what you meant lol

 

[Trevorleach]

This is my Sealey cab I've had from new about 10 years now

View attachment 499661

(This pic was at a rare time I had just tidied up!!)

It is a fairly light duty affair. About 40% of the drawers have lost their ball bearings and don't open properly after a year or two. But did OK. The replacement Snap On cab has literally 3x or 4x times the storage space comparatively so im very much looking forward to have sturdy & spacious drawer space to organise my tools which are currently scattered all around my garages as they don't fit in this Sealey one.

I also have a used Bluepoint trolley which is very heavy duty and will takes care of storing some tools too.

(Photo below was just after getting it good used!! It's now buried in tools )

View attachment 499662

The BP trollies tend to collapse at the plastic bush that holds the castor into the chrome frame upright fails, mainly as they get overloaded!

 

[atomant48]

The replacement Snap On cab has literally 3x or 4x times the storage space comparatively so im very much looking forward to have sturdy & spacious drawer space to organise my tools which are currently scattered all around my garages as they don't fit in this Sealey one.

You’ll love it mate. Those full width drawers really are massive - surprising how much bigger than most (particularly in the depth). I have all sockets and ratchets etc in the top drawer and spanner’s in the second. It’s a nice feeling opening them and pushing them shut hearing the “clunk” as all that weight closes.

 

[JOEPRO]

You’ll love it mate. Those full width drawers really are massive - surprising how much bigger than most (particularly in the depth). I have all sockets and ratchets etc in the top drawer and spanner’s in the second. It’s a nice feeling opening them and pushing them shut hearing the “clunk” as all that weight closes.

Thanks, yes I was very impressed seeing one in person and what the drawers can hold with ease! This is one of the ones you can sit on a drawer it'll take your full weight.

I have a space cleared for it. The garage floor is at a slope but will be broken out later this year for car lift reinforced slab so ill grind 4x level pads for it's wheels to get it set up in its temporary position then I can start clearing the drawers out, likely replacing the drawer liners as I have new rolls of quality stuff on a shelf already and start moving my stuff into it later this week

 

[Pete.]

Took the wheels off my new tool box and installed it under my bench. Filled the gap at the end with a 15 drawer Bisley cabinet:



This is going to transform my workshop as it will free-up space used elsewhere to store tools and stuff and allows mw to finalise the layout which has been a work in progress for the past 8 months.. Having it set back under my bench is handy as it allows me to clamp stuff to the bench still.

 

[JOEPRO]

There are these, https://www.sgs-engineering.com/stcc500-mechanics-tool-cart-trolley-workstation but I think they would be better with more drawers instead of an opening top and large open bottom shelf, you know, just a roll cab.

I had one of those SGS trolleys for a while and ended up selling it on. It was light duty IMO.

 

[plantlife]

I keep looking at the cheaper stuff,

72” with 50 quid off

226227590231

266244518142


9 drawer tool box , these normally go for sixty ish. Not sure if they are just a rip off of clarke

167064646994


9 drawer tool box
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/cla...MI6d6VmdHwjQMVW5RQBh1dMyPkEAQYAiABEgJ6ffD_BwE

 

[jmp49]

All these lovely expensive boxes...
Being a utter cheapskate, Ive found that mid chest drawer units on ebay are much more expensive than top boxes, but you can cut the top off a 3 drawer top box and have a mid chest for 50 quid.

 

[MetalMonkey]

9 drawer tool box , these normally go for sixty ish. Not sure if they are just a rip off of clarke

167064646994


9 drawer tool box
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/cla...MI6d6VmdHwjQMVW5RQBh1dMyPkEAQYAiABEgJ6ffD_BwE

I have several of those for storing odd bits in - they are best described as "lightweight".
They serve a purpose - i needed a lot of cheap storage for small stuff, but they are fairly flimsy.

I can recommend this style:
https://usprotoolboxes.com/product/professional-tool-cabinet-box-heavy-duty-2pc/

Basically the same thing branded as US General in America.
All chinese, but decently made - the only issue I've had is the detent for the drawer runners have started to go on a couple of the drawers, but they were seriously overloaded so I can't really blame it.
I do wish they had the new generation with the longer draws in this country, as that is my biggest gripe.

 

[ajlelectronics]

new generation with the longer draws in this country

 

[Erie Fred]

On sale today !

U.S. GENERAL Mini Steel Toolbox for $13.99

Buy the U.S. GENERAL Mini Steel Toolbox (Item 72431) for $13.99, valid through June 12, 2025.Save on Harbor Freight’s customer favorites with our super coupons. Search our Harbor Freight coup…

go.harborfreight.com

 

[premmington]

On sale today !

U.S. GENERAL Mini Steel Toolbox for $13.99

Buy the U.S. GENERAL Mini Steel Toolbox (Item 72431) for $13.99, valid through June 12, 2025.Save on Harbor Freight’s customer favorites with our super coupons. Search our Harbor Freight coup…

go.harborfreight.com

Harbor Freight also sell some good tooboxes as well - don't they...?

Pretty sure a lad I know off the local USAF base got an "ICON" one in his off base UK rented house garage. This ICON thing looked Snap On quality to me!

 

[atomant48]

Harbor Freight also sell some good tooboxes as well - don't they...?

Pretty sure a lad I know off the local USAF base got an "ICON" one in his off base UK rented house garage. This ICON thing looked Snap On quality to me!

Yeah they started that ICON brand a few years back. The spanner’s are almost identical to the snap on ones in looks and design …. There must have been a patent expiry that let them do it. I’ve got a set of non ratchet ones and they have been fine in use - also some of their cutters and pliers which seem fine.

My only complaint is the pricing seems to have skyrocketed over the years - last time I was in the US I had intended to get another set of spanner’s and they seemed 3 times the price I remembered. Maybe everting had gone up and I hadn’t noticed. I’ve never looked closely at the tool cabinets as they are not practical to bring home (!) but they look impressive in the shop. Massive some of them.

 

[robsdesk]

Does anyone have any experience of these on offer at Costco at the moment? Look similar to some of the SGS units?

https://www.costco.co.uk/Home-Improvement/Storage-Organisation/Tool-Storage-Chests/Hilka-56-16-Drawer-Professional-Tool-Chest-and-Cabinet/p/531354